Apple to upgrade Genmoji with auto suggestions in iOS 27
▼ Summary
– Apple plans a “Suggested Genmoji” feature in iOS 27, generating Genmoji based on a user’s photo library and commonly typed phrases.
– Genmoji debuted in iOS 18.2, allowing users to create custom emoji via text prompts, though results were sometimes inaccurate.
– iOS 26 expanded Genmoji with deeper customization and the ability to mix two emojis.
– The Suggested Genmoji feature will be optional, with a toggle in the keyboard settings of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.
– It is unclear if Genmoji in iOS 27 will continue to rely entirely on on-device image models.
Apple is reportedly planning a fresh upgrade to its Genmoji feature in the upcoming iOS 27 release, aiming to drive wider adoption through automatic suggestions drawn from users’ photo libraries and keyboard history. This insight comes from Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, which details a new toggle found in the keyboard settings for both iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.
Genmoji first arrived in iOS 18.2 as part of the initial Apple Intelligence suite. The concept was straightforward: users type a quick prompt, and the system uses image generation models to craft a custom emoji that matches the request. While the feature worked, it often produced noticeable misses and felt inconsistent.
Apple expanded Genmoji in iOS 26 by adding deeper customization and the ability to merge two emojis. Now, with iOS 27, the company is taking another step forward. The new Suggested Genmoji feature will automatically generate emoji ideas based on your personal photos and frequently typed phrases. The toggle in the settings reads: “Suggested Genmoji are created from your photos and your commonly typed phrases.” Importantly, the capability will be optional, giving users control over whether to enable it.
If implemented well, this update could be genuinely useful. The real potential lies in the system’s ability to understand context and deliver relevant suggestions rather than random ones. That said, there is understandable concern about how users will react to an automatic process that generates emojis using personal photos and typing history. Apple’s decision to keep the feature optional should help ease those worries.
It remains unclear whether Genmoji in iOS 27 will continue to rely entirely on on-device models. Since there is no mention of an image model upgrade in the current reports, it is likely that local processing will still be the foundation.
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(Source: 9to5Mac)
